About

You know how some writers say that they never wanted to do anything but write, that they always had a pencil in their hands from their earliest years, and so it was inevitable they would grow up to become writers?

Yeah, that’s not me.

Don’t get me wrong, I always loved to imagine and create new worlds, and I loved to write – but it didn’t occur to me until much, much later that those things made me a writer. Back in the days before the internet (yes, I am that old!), my cousin and I would write actual letters to one another. Only our letters were not simple missives, oh no – we did a lot of what I now know is called world-building. That’s because, even though we were best friends, we only really got to spend one week a year together, when she would come with my family to Ocean City, MD for a week each summer. And every year, we would create a new pretend game, with new characters. One year we were international beauty pageant contestants. Another year she was the princess of a small European country and I was her lady-in-waiting. (That one actually inspired a novel – maybe that’ll get published someday!) And in the seemingly interminable months from September to July, we would write to one another, letters upon letters: letters from each of us to the other, but also letters from our characters to each other. And we’d include supporting documents too: menus from banquets our characters attended, application forms they had filled out, catalog pages showing clothes they would wear…you get the idea.

But like I said, I didn’t realize until much, much later that there was a real-world application for those games. In the meantime, I had what I think of as my “choose-your-own-adventure” career. I got my Master’s degree in Library Science and went to work as a public children’s librarian, a job that I loved. While there, I met a Deaf kindergarten teacher who inspired me to start taking American Sign Language (ASL) classes. I enjoyed those so much I decided to pursue a degree in ASL Interpreting, and went to work as a school librarian at the Maryland School for the Deaf. I loved that job too. During my summers off, I began performing at public libraries, offering interactive storytelling programs that teach basic American Sign Language. Guess what? I also loved doing that (and still do!). Around that time I also published my first resource book for librarians, Try Your Hand at This!: Easy Ways to Incorporate Sign Language into Your Programs.

When I finished my degree, I made the switch to full-time freelance interpreter, storyteller, and writer, but I still work behind the reference desk at a public library occasionally. I published several storytime resource books as well.

And all the time, in the midst of all the other jobs I loved doing, I was writing novels. Sword and Verse was actually the fifth full-length manuscript I completed, and the first draft of it was done in 2004. So, as you can see, it’s been a long haul. In the midst of my weird Venn-diagram career, I am happy to finally be able to devote a larger circle to writing!

But enough about me! Go read my books. They are much more interesting.

If that bio was too chatty for you, here is the more official one:

Kathy MacMillan is a writer, national certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and signing storyteller. Her debut young adult novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for 2017 Compton Crook Award, and its sequel will be published in October 2018. She is also the author of eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Huron Street Press, 2013), and the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press). Kathy is the founder of The Sweet Sixteens debut group of 2016 middle grade and young adult authors, and serves as the co-Regional Advisor for the Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia Region of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her diverse career includes working as a children’s librarian at public libraries, working a school librarian at the Maryland School for the Deaf, leading the Eldersburg Library Bookcart Drill Team, and performing as Scooby-Doo, Velma, and a host of other characters at a theme park. Kathy presents American Sign Language storytelling programs through her business, Stories By Hand, and also runs the storytime resource website Storytime Stuff. She is a board member of Deaf Camps, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides camps for deaf children. Kathy holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor of English from the Catholic University of America, and a Certificate of American Sign Language Interpreting from the Community College of Baltimore County. She lives near Baltimore, MD.

Shorter versions for conference and publicity needs:

General Bio (110 words):

Kathy MacMillan is a writer, American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, signing storyteller, and avowed Hufflepuff. Her debut young adult novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for 2017 Compton Crook Award, and its sequel will be published in October 2018. She is also the author of eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together, and the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press). Kathy serves as the co-Regional Advisor for the Maryland/Delaware/West Virginia Region of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.She lives near Baltimore, MD. Find her online at http://www.kathymacmillan.com or on Twitter at @kathys_quill.

Short bio (71 words):

Kathy MacMillan is a writer, American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and signing storyteller. Her debut young adult novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for 2017 Compton Crook Award. She has also published many books about early literacy and American Sign Language, including Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Huron Street Press), and the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press). She lives near Baltimore, MD.

Upcoming Events

UMBC Comic ConMarch 2, 2018 at 11:00 am – 7:00 pmUMBC Comic-Con A FREE convention with panels, video-games and prizes! Friday, March 2, 2018 · 1 PM - 7 PM University of MD, Baltimore County University Center : Ballroom, 310, 312 On March 2nd, the Comics and Other Media Club will be hosting the 3rd Annual UMBC Comic Con in the University Center Ballroom from…

FREE Webinar: A Conversation with Young Adult AuthorsMarch 3, 2018 at 3:00 pm – 3:45 pmThe MD/DE/WV Region is pleased to host these FREE webinars, open to everyone, as part of the Read Local Challenge, which gives you the chance to win prizes by reading books by featured authors from Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., and Virginia! Join us as these authors discuss their inspirations and challenges and answer your questions!…